I know the gun nerds like to bloviate about this stuff, so lets hear it!

Here's what I'm looking for. It's for the wife, so it needs to be somewhat light. Preferably easy to find chrome or nickel plated. In .357 (so she can shoot .38 special) and easy to find sweet custom grips for.

What should I be looking for? I've checked out some Ruger Vaqueros and a Beretta but I don't remember the model of that one.

Thanks guys.

__________________"Please use the comments to demonstrate your own ignorance, unfamiliarity with empirical data, ability to repeat discredited memes, and lack of respect for scientific knowledge. Also, be sure to create straw men and argue against things I have neither said nor even implied. Any irrelevancies you can mention will also be appreciated. Lastly, kindly forgo all civility in your discourse . . you are, after all, anonymous." -Barry Ritholtz

we just ordered a pair from this guy for my wife... he was great to deal w/ and had the guns at the best price we've found.

It might just be available in .45LC, but you can go w/ the regular Vaquero and get it in .357 Note that there is a difference between "new model" and "old model" Vaqueros if you look at used guns. Old models have a larger frame size. New models were trimmed down to be closer to the original Colt Peacemaker dimensions.

Single actions were made for big bores.
Colt SAA's and their true clones(Uberti, USFA, etc) do not have a transfer bar that renders them safe to carry with the hammer down on a loaded chamber. The Beretta Stampede(made by Uberti) and Ruger New Vaquero do have the device and are safe.
Most of the italian made copies of the SAA are pretty darn good quality and rather affordable. Most people feel most comfortable with the shorter 4 3/4" barrels.

Taurus made a single action called the Gaucho recently. You can probably pick them up discounted pretty easily. Probably should avoid them as QC was an issue and they had a very short production lifespan.
Seriously, get one in .45 colt. The ammo may not be as cheap, but it sure is fun to shoot.

I'd stick with Ruger single-actions. Post-1973 models have a transfer-bar safety which means it's safe to carry/shoot 6 rounds. Dunno about the other brands, Ruger SAs are tough and last forever.

Colt and US Firearms etc do not have the transfer bar safety system and an impact on the hammer could in theory detonate a round. And they're way more expensive. (I think you're looking for Seiko and not Rolex.) And I'm not fond of the other 'off-brand' guns (try and find a part).

The New Vaquero is the closest to a traditional cowboy revolver. They come in blued & stainless. The Blackhawks

My favorite Ruger SA is the specialty Ruger 50th Anniv. Blackhawk Flattop in 357; this little blued gun is on the new smaller New Vaquero/SAA-sized frame but has adj. sights and the flattop like the bigger Blackhawks.

Get it in 38/357 since that's cheap & fun to shoot.

I think you'll like the 4-5/8" bbl or 5-1/2" bbl options.

You'll wear out before these guns wear out.

__________________

Bill Wiese
San Jose, CA

CGF Board Member / NRA Benefactor Life Member / CRPA life memberNo postings of mine here, unless otherwise specifically noted, areto be construed as formal or informal positions of the Calguns.Netownership, The Calguns Foundation, Inc. ("CGF"), the NRA, or my employer. No posts of mine on Calguns are to be construed as legal advice, which can only be given by a lawyer.

I really like my Ruger New Vaquero .357 SS, it's a gas to shoot and they are built like tanks. Check out Cary Chapman in So Cal for the sweetest grips you have ever seen: http://www.clccustomgrips.com/
This one sports his "gunfighter" style grips in American holly wood, some call it American ivory. Really pretty wood and feels great in the hand.

And for the record, on non transfer bar Single Actions you load one, skip one, load 4 and you end up with hammer down on an empty cylinder. Very easy.

Yes, and that's fine for SASS where they handicap everyone, but why throw away an extra round?

I'll take 6 instead of 5 for practical daily use so back to the New Vaqero etc.

I think it's tremendously stupid for any gun mfgr to make a non-xfer-bar wheelgun when there's this very good option. 'Tradition' ain't worth that much.

Was thinking about a USFA for awhile but lack of xfer bar and 5 outta 6 issue drove me away.

__________________

Bill Wiese
San Jose, CA

CGF Board Member / NRA Benefactor Life Member / CRPA life memberNo postings of mine here, unless otherwise specifically noted, areto be construed as formal or informal positions of the Calguns.Netownership, The Calguns Foundation, Inc. ("CGF"), the NRA, or my employer. No posts of mine on Calguns are to be construed as legal advice, which can only be given by a lawyer.

I know the gun nerds like to bloviate about this stuff, so lets hear it!

Here's what I'm looking for. It's for the wife, so it needs to be somewhat light. Preferably easy to find chrome or nickel plated. In .357 (so she can shoot .38 special) and easy to find sweet custom grips for.

What should I be looking for? I've checked out some Ruger Vaqueros and a Beretta but I don't remember the model of that one.

Thanks guys.

When I was shooting SASS almost every weekend I saw quite a few Colts and other brands come out of timing or fall apart. I used Vaqueros with replacement springs (in .357) and they were flawless. Ruger single action is the way to go.